EFFECTSOFEPPONPVINFECTIONONGENE EXPRESSIONINEPIPHYAS POSTVITTANALARVAE

The nucleopolyhedrovirus EppoNPV can control larvae of the leafroller Epiphyas postvittana in the field, but has varying effects on New Zealand's other leafroller pests. An understanding of the infection process at the genetic/molecular level within the leafroller complex may lead to strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the virus. Microarray technology was used to examine the effects of viral infection on gene expression levels in E. postvittana gut tissue. The results show that a 5 day infection with EppoNPV caused a significant down-regulation of several E. postvittana genes, many of which were consistent with a response to injury or stress, or with the triggering of apoptosis (such as components of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway). The majority of the expressed viral sequences detected are structural genes and genes associated with late gene expression. These data provide a basis from which to compare EppoNPV infection in other less susceptible leafroller species.